Gas supply system

ABSTRACT

A wind turbine device that includes a gas supply system that includes a housing with an aperture, a spool, a one way bearing, an interval locking device, a universal shaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of spring grounding tabs, a main base that stabilizes the housing, a rotating shaft where the main base is disposed on the distal end of the rotating shaft, a rotational bearing that is disposed on the proximal end of the rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the main base. There is also a base clamp that has a pair of corresponding apertures and secures the gas supply system to a tubular shaped object and an adjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt wherein the proximal end of the threaded bolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle and the adjustable clamp screw.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 12/115,842 the present application claimsbenefit of the priority date of U.S. Non-provisional patent applicationSer. No. 12/115,842 filed on May 6, 2008, the entire disclosure of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to delivery of therapeutic gasessuch as oxygen, nitrous oxide and the like to patients, and, moreparticularly, to a gas supply system capable of delivering a gas or atherapeutic gas from a gas supply to a nasal cannula connected to apatient's nose.

During surgeries and other medical treatments, patient often require asupply of therapeutic gases, for example, oxygen, nitrous oxide, and thelike. A source of the therapeutic gases may include an air canister gassupply system, an air supply cylinder and the like. The therapeuticgases may be supplied to the patient from the source using a gas tubeand a nasal cannula. More specifically, one end of the gas tube isconnected to the source and the other end to the nasal cannula. Further,the nasal cannula is used to administer the therapeutic gases into thepatient through their nose.

Moreover, when the gas tube is dragged along a dirty floor of the roomdue to the patient's movement, the gas tube may get soiled. Accordingly,the patient using such a soiled gas tube may catch infection. Further,the gas tube lying on the floor or dragged along the room may affectaesthetic appeal of the room and may provide an unorganized environmentto the patient.

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, there is a need for a gas supplysystem that allows a patient to move freely and conveniently inside aroom while being administered a therapeutic gas from the gas supplysystem. Moreover, the gas supply system should prevent a gas tube fromlying on a floor of the room and being dragged along the floor. Further,there is a need for a gas supply system that keeps a gas tube clean,thereby reducing chances of causing infection to a patient. Furthermore,there is a need for a gas supply system that enables a user to preservethe aesthetics of the room, thereby providing an organized environmentto the patient.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a gassupply system that allows a patient to move freely and convenientlyinside a room while being administered a therapeutic gas from the gassupply system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas supplysystem that prevents a gas tube from lying on a floor of the room andbeing dragged along the floor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a gas supplysystem that keeps a gas tube clean, thereby reducing chances of causinginfection to a patient.

In light of the above objects, in one aspect of the present invention, agas supply system is disclosed. The gas supply system is capable ofdelivering gas from a gas supply to a nasal cannula and capable of beingremovably mounted on a supporting member.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with aplurality of other features that characterize the present invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form apart of this present invention. For a better understanding of thepresent invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objectsattained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichlike references denote similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagonal perspective view of a gas supply system,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side perspective view of a gas supply system, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a front perspective view of a gas supply system, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a gas supply canister utilized bya gas supply system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention, however, the order of description should not be construed asto imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a gas supply system 100, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The gas supply system 100 typicallycontains oxygen but can contain any suitable medical related gas.

The gas supply system 100 includes a housing 110, a main base 120, arotating shaft 130, a rotational bearing 140, a base clamp 150 and anadjustable clamp screw 160. The housing 110 houses a plurality of gassupply canister components described and illustrated in FIG. 3 and itsdescription. The housing 110 is generally cylindrical-shaped 112 but canbe any suitable housing shape. The housing 110 also includes an aperture114 to access one or more gas supply canister components described andillustrated in FIG. 3 and its description. The main base 120 stabilizesthe housing 110 in an upright perpendicular position. The rotating shaft130 has a proximal end 132 and a distal end 134 where the main base 120is disposed on the distal end 134 of the rotating shaft 130. Therotational bearing 140 is disposed on the proximal end 132 of therotating shaft 130 and connects the rotating shaft 130 to the main base120. The base clamp 150 has a pair of corresponding apertures 152 andsecures the gas supply system 100 to a tubular or other suitably shapedobject (not shown) such as a bed post or bed frame. The base clamp 150has foam or other suitable padding 154 between the base clamp 150 andthe tubular or other suitably shaped object. The padding 154 is disposedon the base clamp 150 to prevent damage to the base clamp 150 or thetubular or other suitably shaped object. The adjustable clamp screw 160has a handle 162 and a threaded bolt 164 with a proximal end 166 and adistal end 168. The proximal end 166 of the threaded bolt 164 isattached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle 162. Theadjustable clamp screw 160 is rotated and screwed through the pair ofcorresponding apertures 152 of the base clamp 150 to tighten the baseclamp 150 around the tubular or other suitably shaped object.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side perspective view of a gas supply system 200,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The gassupply system 200 include a plurality of similar components that areutilized and described and illustrated in FIG. 1 and its description andinclude a housing 110, a main base 120, a rotating shaft 130, arotational bearing 140, a base clamp 150 and an adjustable clamp screw160. The gas supply system 200 additionally includes a sleeve 210, anelbow connector 220, an extended handle 230 and a receiving nut 240. Thesleeve 210 is placed underneath the main base 120 on the rotating shaft130 and includes a pair of corresponding apertures 122 that also extendthrough the rotating shaft 130. The elbow connector 220 has a t-shapedhead 222 and a distal end 224 where a screw 224 is disposed on thatfastens a gas tubing (not show), which is typically oxygen or othersuitable medical gas tubing to the rotating shaft 130. The extendedhandle 230 has a distal end 232 which a rounded handle 234 that rotatesor turns the rotating shaft 130. The receiving nut 240 is disposed onthe distal end 168 of the adjustable clamp screw 160 and assists insecuring the adjustable clamp screw 160.

FIG. 2B illustrates a front perspective view of a gas supply system 200,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The gassupply system 200 include a plurality of similar components that areutilized and described and illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A and theirdescription and include a housing 110, a main base 120, a rotating shaft130, a rotational bearing 140, a base clamp 150 and an adjustable clampscrew 160. The gas supply system 200 additionally includes a sleeve 210,an elbow connector 220, an extended handle 230 and a receiving nut 240.The illustration in FIG. 2B also illustrates the housing 110 that alsoincludes the aperture 114 previously described in FIG. 1 that will bediscussed further and described and illustrated in FIG. 3 and it'sdescription.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a plurality of internalcomponents of a housing 110 utilized by a gas supply system 300, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The housing 110illustrated in FIG. 3 is a similar housing 110 illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 and includes a spool 310, a one way bearing 320, an intervallocking device 330, a universal shaft 340, a spring housing 350, aspring torque spool 360 and a pair of spring grounding tabs 370. Thespool 310, the one way bearing 320, the interval locking device 330, theuniversal shaft 340, the spring housing 350, the spring torque spool 360and the pair of spring grounding tabs 370 are all contained in thehousing 110. The spool 310 has a top portion 312 and a bottom portion314 that receives and winds gas tubing, which is typically oxygen gastubing, within the housing 110. The spool 310 receives the gas tubingfrom the aperture 114 described and illustrated in FIG. 1. The one waybearing 320 is set under the spool 310 on a small shaft 312 underneaththe spool 310. The interval locking device 330 locks the typicallyoxygen gas tubing in place at a plurality of locations or intervalsalong the typically oxygen gas tubing. The universal shaft 340encapsulates the small shaft 312 underneath the spool interval lockingdevice 330. The spring housing 350 is placed on the universal shaft 340underneath the interval locking device 330 and houses the typically gastubing utilized and encased in the housing 110. The spring torque spool360 secures the spring's free ends to the spring torque spool 360,rotates with the housing 110 and is disposed at the bottom of theuniversal shaft 340. The pair of spring grounding tabs 370 ground thespool 310 from any static electricity that may develop from use of thegas supply system 300.

The present invention provides a gas supply system. The gas supplysystem is adapted to be used for delivery of a gas from a gas supply,for example, an air supply cylinder, to a nasal cannula. The gas supplysystem enables the patient to move conveniently and freely from oneplace to another inside a room while being administered a gas from thedisclosed gas supply system. Moreover, the gas supply system preventsthe tube from lying on a floor of the room and being dragged thereofalong the floor.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoingembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention canbe practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded asillustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

1. A gas supply system, comprising: a housing that includes an aperture,a spool, a one way bearing, an interval locking device, a universalshaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of springgrounding tabs; a main base that stabilizes said housing in an uprightperpendicular position; a rotating shaft that has a proximal end and adistal end where said main base is disposed on said distal end of saidrotating shaft; a rotational bearing that is disposed on said proximalend of said rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the mainbase; a base clamp that has a pair of corresponding apertures andsecures said gas supply system to a tubular shaped object; and anadjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt with aproximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal end of said threadedbolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from said handle andsaid adjustable clamp screw.
 2. The system according to claim 1, whereinsaid housing is generally cylindrical-shape.
 3. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said tubular shaped object is a bedpost.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said tubular shaped object is a bed frame.5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base clamp has paddingbetween said base clamp and said tubular shaped object.
 6. The systemaccording to claim 5, wherein said base clamp has foam padding betweensaid base clamp and said tubular shaped object.
 7. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein said padding is disposed on said base clamp toprevent damage to said base clamp or said tubular shaped object.
 8. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable clamp screw isrotated and screwed through said pair of corresponding apertures of saidbase clamp to tighten said base clamp around said tubular or othersuitably shaped object.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein saidspool has a top portion and a bottom portion that receives and windsoxygen gas tubing within said housing from said aperture.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 9, wherein said interval locking device locks saidoxygen gas tubing in place at a plurality of locations or intervalsalong the typically oxygen gas tubing.
 11. The system according to claim9, wherein said spring housing is placed on said universal shaftunderneath said interval locking device and houses said oxygen gastubing utilized and encased in said housing.
 12. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said universal shaft encapsulates said small shaftunderneath said spool interval locking device.
 13. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein said spring torque spool secures a spring's freeends to said spring torque spool.
 14. The system according to claim 1,wherein said one way bearing is set under said spool on a small shaft.15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said spring torque spoolrotates with said housing and is disposed at a bottom of said universalshaft.
 16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said pair of springgrounding tabs ground said spool from static electricity that maydevelop from use of said gas supply system
 17. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said gas supply system includes a sleeve.
 18. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein said gas supply system includes anelbow connector.
 19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said gassupply system includes a receiving nut.
 20. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said gas supply system includes an extended handle.